$2.2 Million Award,|if the Sands Can Collect

LAS VEGAS (CN) – Las Vegas Sands won a $2.2 million judgment against Asia-based trademark infringers, but might not be able to collect. U.S. District Judge James Mahan permanently enjoined First Cagayan Leisure & Resort, Wann Yichen, Qing Wan Leng and unknown registrants of 54 websites against further violations of the Sands mark and the its copyrighted sunburst design. His Feb. 27 ruling ordered the infringers to pay $2 million for using the Sands trademarks and another $150,000 for violating copyright. On Feb. 17, Mahan ordered the offending websites to be shut down and prevented registration sites from transferring them to other domain registrars . In January, Mahan ordered unknown infringers of the Sands mark to pay $2 million, if they ever are found . In both instances, the offending sites were using the marks and copyrighted materials for marketing online gaming sites. The online casinos offer games such as keno, blackjack, baccarat, roulette and Texas hold ’em, according to the lawsuit. The sites allow visitors to set up accounts and gamble after providing their credit card or banking information. The Sands said in its complaint that it opposes legalization of Internet gaming in the United States and is a “strong supporter” of the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling. Las Vegas Sands owns and operates the Venetian-Palazzo Resort and the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, the Sands Macau, Venetian Macau, Four Seasons Macau and the Sands Cotai Central in Macau. On its website, Philippines-based First Cagayan bills itself as “Asia’s first gaming jurisdiction” and a subsidiary of Leisure and Resorts World. The company says it has more than 50 operators involved in the hotel and leisure industry and offers casino and Internet gaming.